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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. THOMSON & R. W. MULLINS.

EXGAVATING APPARATUS. I No. 338,803. Patented Mar. 30, 1886.

as Do PJZJVTO (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. THOMSON & R. W. MULLINS.EXUAVATING APPARATUS. N0. 338;803. Patented Mar. 30, 1886.

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( No'ModeL) 3 Sheets$heet 3. J. THOMSON & .R. W. MULLINS. EXGAVATINGAPPARATUS. No. 338,803. Patented Mar. 30, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN THOMSON AND RICHARD \V. MULLINS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI; SAIDTHOMSON ASSIGNOR TO SAID MULLINS.

EXCAVATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,803, dated March 3O1886.

Applicntim! filed August 5, 1885. Serial No. 173,591. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN THOMSON and RICHARD W. MULLINs, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson andState of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inExcavating Apparatus; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

Our invention relates to excavating apparatus, and more particularly tothat class in which the receptacles for carrying or transporting theexcavated material are moved upon tracks.

The objects of the invention are to provide an improved construction oftramway upon which the trucks or cars can be moved, andwhich tramwaywill readily adapt itself to curves or angles; to provide a tramwaywhich may be readily and easily taken apart for transportation, and onethat may be quickly put together; to provide two tracks, one above theother, whereby when the trucks on one track are removing a load from thepoint of excavation the other cars will be returned to receive anotherload; to provide an improved construction of truck to travel on saidtramway; to provide improved means for connecting the trucks, wherebythey will be allowed to flex in turning curves; to provide an inn provedconstruction of bucket; and to provide improved means for maintaining orholding the buckets in a raised or elevated position, and for releasingsaid buckets, whereby they may be lowered so as to be within easy accessof the workmen.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the said invention consists inthe features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of our invention. Fig. 2is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal verticalsection. Fig. 4 is a transverse section 011 the line 00 x of Fig. 1.Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the trucks or carriages removed. Fig.6 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 6

is a bottom view of one of the trucks. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one ofthe buckets employed. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of Fig. 7; and Figs. 9and 10 are detail views.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same lettersof reference.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the tramway or trestlcwork ofthe apparatus,

which tramway is composed of a series of flexibly-connected frames, B.Each of these The beams O (3, which are adapted to engage the openingsin the lugs b, from which it will be seen that the several frames areflexibly or pivotally connected so that the tramway or trestle-work canaccommodate itself to curves or angles.

Secured to the inner sides of the vertical 7 beams O O are brackets E,the brackets of the several sections being on a horizontal plane. Thesebrackets are secured one set at or about the center of the beams, andanother set at a short distance from the upper ends thereof.

F represents tracks which are pivoted between the brackets E by means ofvertical pivot-bolts c, said tracks being arranged one above the other,as shown, so that the trucks or cars can travel one above the other. Theends of the tracks are round, so that said ends may be located veryclosely together, and yet may turn without interfering when theapparatus is moved upon curves.

Secured between and connecting the brackets E are guard-rails F, whichare arranged at slight distances above the tracks F, so as to enable thewheels of the truck to run easily on the tracks and yet prevent themfromjump- 5 ing therefrom.

G represents trucks which are adapted to travel on the tracks F, saidtrucks being preferably arranged in a series and running upon the upperand lower tracks.

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As the trucks are all of the same construction it,is thought that adescription of one of them will be sufficient. Y

The trucks G comprise aplatform, H, which is provided with wheels h,which run upon the tracks F, said platform being provided with anopening, h, over which is secured a metal plate, I, which is alsoprovided with an opening, h. In the sides of the opening h are hinged orpivoted doors h", against the upper sides or faces of which bear flatsprings h, which are secured to the metal plate I.

' These doors are held in a horizontal position and flush with the upperside of the plate I by means of ledges or shoulders i, which projectfrom the sides of the opening in said plate I. The inner ends of thehinged doors are provided with recesses P, which register and form anopening, i of sufficient size to permit the passage of a rope, cable, orchain.

Projecting upwardly from opposite sides of the plate I are brackets K,between which brackets is journaled a sheave, j.

As before stated, the trucks are arranged in a series of any desired orsuitable number. These trucks are connected on their under sides by barsL,which are pivoted to the platforms near the ends thereof, thusallowing the advance car to turn a curve without interi'ering in theleast with the remainder of the series.

M represents a rock-shaft, which has hearing in recesses upon the uppersides of the platforms of the trucks, and upon one end of which isrigidly secured an arm or lever, N, whereby said shaft may be turned.The rockshaft M is jointed between the trucks, as shown, so as to permitthe trucks turning.

Upon the rock-shaft M are located tappet-- arms N, which are rigidlysecured to said rock-shaft. These tappet-armsareformedwith heads Z,which are adapted to bear against the under sides of the doors I1whereby when the rock-shaft is turned the doors will be forced openupwardly by the tappet-arms.

At one end of the tramway or trestle-work are secured two uprights, O,in which are journaled pulleys m, and passing over said pulleys areropes, chains, or cables n, which are secured attheir free ends to theend trucks 4 of the series upon the upper and lower tracks.

It will thus be observed that if the upper series of trucks be moved inone direction the series of trucks on the lower tracks will be moved inan opposite direction.

P represents a rope which connects with a suitable winding-drum designedto be actuated Attached to, the lower ends of the ropes Q are hooks R,and ad pfifid to be attached to said hooks are buckets S. The buckets Sare provided with pivoted bails p, which are adapted to be engaged bythe hooks R. These hooks Rconsist of a body, q, the ends of which arebent or curved in opposite directions, as at q, and lapped so as to holdthe buckets firmly and securely against accidental detachment.

T represents a lug, which projects from the bail of the buckets, andpivoted to said lug are levers U, the ends of which are bent inwardly,and project through openings 1* in the bail, so that their ends willengage openings '8 in the bucket, and thus support the bucket inposition, and holding them rigid with the bails, so that they will notdrop until the pivoted levers are depressed at their outer ends toremove the inturned ends from the open--- ings in the buckets. Springs Vare placed under the outer or free ends of the levers, so as to hold thesame in engagement with the buckets. It .will be apparent that when thefree ends of the levers are depressed their bent ends will be removedfrom engagement with the openings in the buckets, and thus allow thebuckets to drop to discharge their load. The series of buckets on thetrucks of the lower tracks are connected with a car, W,

which travels in advance of the trucks, by short ropes, and this car Wis connected'with the winding-drum before mentioned by twolowered theywould strike said rope.

It will be observed that by turning the rockshaft, and then unwindingthe drum, so as to."

loosen the cords, the buckets will be lowered, from the fact that therock-shaft opens the hinged doors and permits the disks or buttons onthe ropes to pass through said doors. -When the buckets have beenloaded, the drum being revolved the buckets are raised, and the con--ical buttons raise the doors and pass the same. The doors are thenforced to their closed position by the springs h, and the buttons bearupon the upper sides of the same, and thus support the buckets whilethey are being moved to the point at which they are to be dumped. Whenthis point is reached, it is only necessary to depress the levers on thebails oi' the buckets, when said buckets will dump and discharge theirloads.

An important feature of our invention is found in the fact that as thetracks are arranged one above the other, the tramway or' IIO trestledoes not occupy but a slight space as to width.

Itwill be observed that rollers X are located at the lower ends of thevertical uprights of the tramway or trestle.- These rollers are for thepurpose of allowing the trestle to be moved from place to place on anordinary track.

By placing the buckets to travel on tracks arranged one above the other,it will be seen that avery narrow tramway may be employed.

Numerous changes may from time to time suggest themselves; hence, wewould have it distinctly understood that we do not limit ourselves tothe exact construction shown and described, but reserve to ourselves theright to make all such alteration in the construction and arrangement ofthe various parts as may properly fall within the scope of ourinvention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1. In an excavatingapparatus, the combination, with a supporting tramway or trestlecomprising a series of flexibly-connected sections, of tracks secured tosaid tramway, one above the other, a series of trucks to travel on saidtracks, and buckets carried by the trucks and adapted to be raised andlowered, substantially as set forth.

2. A supporting tramway or trestle comprising a series offlexibly-connected sections, said sections being provided with wheels orrollers at their lower ends, flexibly-connected tracks supported by saidtrestle and arranged one above the other, and a set of flexiblyconnectedtrucks on each track, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a supporting tramway or trestle comprisingaseries of flexibly-connected sections, tracks supported by said trestleand adapted to turn with the sections, guard-rails arranged above thetrack and adapted to turn with the sections, and trucks to travel on thetracks, as set forth.

4. A trestle or tramway comprising a series of flexibly-connectedsections, a series of flexibly-connected tracks supported by saidtrestle, flexiblyconnected trucks on the tracks, buckets carried by thetrucks, and a rope or chain connected with said buckets and adapted-toraise and lower the same, substantially as set forth.

5. A trestle or tramway comprising a series of flexibly-connectedsections, jointed tracks secured to the trestle, and a series of trucksto travel on the tracks, said trucks being connected by meanssubstantially as described, whereby they may readily turn upon curves,as set forth.

6. A trestle comprising vertical bars connected at their upper and lowerends to form frames, brackets having perforated lugs se cured to saidframe, and bars connecting the frames and having bolts or pins to engagethe openings in the lugs, as set forth.

7. A trestle consisting of a series of flexibly-connected sections,brackets on the inner sides of the vertical uprights of said sections,and tracks having their meeting ends pivoted in said brackets,substantially as set forth.

8. The combination,with a trestle or frame, of tracks arranged one abovethe other,trucks on said tracks, buckets supported by the trucks andadapted to be lowered therefrom,

and cables or their equivalents connecting the trucks upon the differenttracks at one end, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with a trestle or fram composed of a series offlexibly connected sections, a series of flexibly-connected rails toform a track, and a series of flexibly-connected trucks on the track,substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with a supporting frame or trestle comprising aseries of flexibly-connected sections having tracks arranged oneiabovethe other, of a series of trucks on said tracks, openings in the trucks,hinged doors to close said openings, a rock-shaft to raise the doors,buckets, cables connected with the buckets and passing between thedoors, and disks or buttons on said cables, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, with a tramway or trestle comprising a series offlexibly-connected sections, of a track, a series of flexiblyconnectedtrucks on the track, openings in the trucks, hinged doors to close thesame, a rock-shaft having tappet-arms and connecting the trucks,buckets, and cables secured to the buckets and extending through thehinged doors, and disks or buttons on the cables, as set forth.

12. The combination, with a trestle comprising a series offlexibly-connected sections, of trucks to travel on a track supported bysaid trestle, said trucks being flexibly connected, a jointed rock-shaftconnecting the trucks and having an operating-lever and tappet-arms,hinged doors to close openings in the trucks, springs to bear againstthe upper sides of the doors, cables to pass between the doors, bucketson the lower ends of the cables, and buttons on said cables, for thepurpose set forth.

13. The combination, with a supportingtrestle comprisingflexibly-connected sections, of flexibly-connected trucks adapted totravel 011 a track thereof, brackets on the upper sides of the trucks,sheaves journaled between the brackets, cables leading to the trucks,and buckets suspended from the ropes, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination, with a supportingtramway, and tracks arranged oneabove the other and supported by the tramway, of a series of trucks totravel on the tracks, buckets suspended from the upper trucks by ropeswhich are connected with a winding-drum, a car on the lower trackconnected with the winding-drum by two ropes, and buckets connected byropes with said car, whereby the buckets of the upper trucks may belowered between said ropes.

In testimony whereof we affix our signa tures in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN THOMSON. RICHARD \V. MULLINS.

Witnesses:

JAS. SHAUGHNESSY, J r., LILLIA Q. BRACKETT.

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